Control assembly



Enne 1936. J. D. BALDWIN, JR Y CONTROL Assmvnsrjry Filed Jan. 2, 1932 ILI d L u N QQQQ h, H-- w wk Patented June 16, 1936 NETE?.

S'EES CONTROL ASSEMBLY Ohio Application `lanuary 2, 1932, Serial No. 584,362

9 Claims.

This invention relates to a control assembly that is particularly applicable to use in connection with a free wheeling device although it is not necessarily limited in its use to such applica tion and may be employed in other and further capacities if so desired.

The control assembly of this invention is novel in that it incorporates a positive lock on the control rod that can be readily released, manually by the operator, yet will not accidentally release in response to any load in tension on the control Wire.

The particular assembly includes a two part control rod, reciprocable as a unit under the lhand of the operator, to eiiect operation of the part under control, however, one of the parts is adapted to be locked by a keeper in one or more positions of adjustment whereas the other of the parts acts on the keeper to occasion the release of the first part all of which will be hereinafter brought out in the detailed description.

It is one of the objects of this invention to provide a control assembly including a lock for the control rod that will not accidentally release and will positively hold the same in one or more positions oi adjustment. Another object is to provide a control that will occasion no additional manipulation of the parts to reciprocate, lock or unlock the control rod other than a pull or push normal to the plane of the dash panel. Another object of this invention is to provide a control assembly that is quite simple in its makeup'and does not include involved and intricate mechanism, all of which makes for economy of production.

Other objects and advantageous features of this invention will be noted in the following detailed description and accompanying drawing wherein like characters or" reference, indicate like parts and wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section through a control assembly embodying my invention and wherein the parts are intended to be locked only in projected position.

Figure 2 is a detail in longitudinal section showing the parts locked in projected position.

Figure 3 is a section taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2 disclosing the keeper.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal section of a control assembly disclosing a lock for both projected and nonprojected position.

With reference to the drawing, I have shown therein a control assembly, that, for all intents and purposes operates the same as any other 'control as to the drawing out of the control wire by a pull normal to the plane of the supporting surface or on the other hand operates in a reverse order by pushing toward the dash.

However, the instant assembly is novel in that it includes a lock for the control rod that essentially consists of a keeper or tumbler 'I' adapted to drop below center in a notch N (Fig. 1),or notches (Fig. 2) formed in a tubular sleeve S encompassing the control rod R that defines farthest outward as well as farthest inward positions respectively of the control rod. The control rod of the instant invention is relieved oi the burden of being attached'directly to the control wire W, such task being assigned to the sleeve S to which it may be aiiixed in any manner desired as at l, which leaves the control rod R free to act on the tumbler tounseat the same, Figs. 2 and 3 by reason of the particular manner in which the sleeve and rod are aiiixed to the control knob K although the two parts operate as a unit for longitudinal reciprocation.

More particularly, with reference to Fig. 1, wherein I have illustrated a form of control that may be locked in projected position only, I have shown the usual threaded escutcheon 2 that is affixed to a dash panel 3, (bored to receive the same), by the nut and lock washer assembly 5 that cooperates with the enlarged head portion 6 engaging the opposite side of the dash. This enlarged head portion houses the tumbler T forming a part of the lock as well as other parts essential thereto and will be hereinafter referred to more in detail.

The escutcheon 2, is oounterbored at one end and is contracted. upon one end of an escutcheon tube 1 that houses the after end of the dual control rod assembly and is, in turn, contracted upon the end of a spirally wound conduit .8 housing the control wire W adapted to be attached to the free wheeling clutch or other part under control. Hence, for all intents and purposes when the knob K is pulled outwardly, the wire W is drawn through the conduit 8 to operate the part under control, since, the control rod R, and encompassing sleeve S may be reciprocated as a unit.

The control `rod R and sleeve S are longitudinally reciprocable as aunit owing to the particular nature and arrangement of parts with respect to the control knob K albeit .that arrangement also permits of limited relative movement on the part of the control rod R, with respect to the sleeve S, when the sleeve is locked in projected position. The purpose of allowing this freedom of movement to the control rod is to-permit lthe same to unseat the locking tumbler T as will be hereinafter described.

Referring now to the knob K and the manner in which the control rod and sleeve S are afxed thereto, it will be noted that the knob consists of a casting chambered as at i4 for the reception of one end of the rod R which extends therethrough and one end of the sleeve S which is flared radially as at l5 against the bottom of the chamber, perforated to allow the parts just mentioned to extend therethrough. The sleeve and rod are maintained in spaced longitudinal position by an expansion spring I4 encompassing the rod R and bearing at one end against the radial part l5 of the sleeve and at the other end against a washer Il a'ixed to the end of the rod R and being immovably positioned in a groove formed in the knob, which makes the knob and control rod reciprocable as a unit.

It will be apparent that, if the sleeve S is held against longitudinal movement by reason of the tumbler T registering with the notch N, Fig. 2, the rod R, as well as the knob K may be moved in the direction of the arrow, whereas the sleeve S remains fixed and since the radial part l5 and the part il tend to move closer together a considerable force is built up on the spring I4', until such time as a cammed surface Il on the rod causes the tumbler T to be raised sufficiently to clear the notch N whereupon the rod 'l and sleeve S are snapped back to the positional relation shown in Figure 1, under the force of the spring. The rod and sleeve, being cleared of the obstruction are induced to return to unprojected position under the urging of the control wire or under the hand of the operator if the device to be controlled operates under compression on the control wire.

So much for the control rod. The manner in which the parts are locked will now be dealt with in detail, reference being had to Fig. 1 wherein the tumbler T is shown as comprising a cylindrical roller, Fig. 3, 4disposed in a milled slot 25 formed in the head 6 of the escutcheon.

The walls of this slot prevent lateral movement on the part of the roller with respect to the head 2 and movement with the sleeve S, upon which the tumbler is centered, is prevented on one hand by the radial rear wall of the slot and on the other hand by the perforated cap 27 spun over the head of the escutcheon. The tumbler is urged into seating engagement with the sleeve by a U-shaped spring 28, the legs of which engage with the cap 21.

This tumbler is intended to register with a notch N formed in the periphery of the sleeve S, the walls of which are spaced suciently to allow the tumbler to drop therethrough, Fig. 2, and rest below center on a reduced portion 3 of the control rod having a planular upper surface for the reception thereof. The upper portion of the roller, however, projects above the notch and forces in tension on the wire W are delivered through the sleeve to the roller and are taken through the wall of the head 6. There is no possible way in which the roller can escape from its pocket as long as the relationship just described exists, the control rod will be locked against reciprocation, the spring 28 supplementing the forces tending to Wedge the tumbler by holding it .down and thus preventing any possibility of the same working up out of the pocket in response to jolting or jarring of the vehicle.

The sleeve S is released from locked position by ejectment of the tumbler T occasioned by the inward movement of the shaft R toward the dash panel. With reference to Fig. 2, it will be noted that the tumbler T, with the parts in locked position, rests at the bottom of the inclined surface Il of the rod R and as the rod is moved longitudinally toward the dash, under the hand of the operator, the tumbler is moved vertically from a position below center to centered position and then beyond center. As soon as the tumbler moves beyond center the forces in tension on the wire W supplement the effort of the operator and both are effective through the sleeve S to snap the tumbler to the plane of the periphery of the sleeve, whereupon the shaft R and sleeve S spring back to the positional relation indicated in Fig. 1, and both are drawn as a unit inwardly toward the dash, where the sleeve S may, or may not, be again locked in position. In Fig. 1, I have shown only a lock that is effective upon the parts when in projected position. However, in Fig. 4, I have shown a lock that is effective for both projected and unprojectcd position.

In the assembly shown in Fig. 4, I intend to lock the sleeve N in both projected and unprojectcd position and to this end I have provided a notch N adjacent the forward end of the sleeve that denes the farthest inward position of the control parts. The tumbler T, in this instance, is also intended to drop below center into a milled slot in the shaft that has a reversely inclined surface 3l intended to perform the same function as the inclined surface il, Fig. 1, except that it is effective to raise the tumbler when the shaft R is drawn outwardly toward projected position.

It follows that if the sleeve S is held against longitudinal movement when in projected position, there must be a limited longitudinal movement of the shaft R with respect thereto to effect the unseating of the tumbler T. This is brought about by simply repositioning the radial part l5 of the sleeve S at a point intermediate the ends of the chamber I4 in the knob K and providing duplicate expansion springs 33 and 34 of equal strength in place of the single expansion spring shown in Fig. 1 so that the sleeve S and shaft R will, when reciprocated as a unit, take the positional relation disclosed in Fig. 4.

Hence, with the parts in the position shown in Fig. 4, a pull outwardly on the knob K will move the rod R positively to cause the ejectment of the tumbler T, in the manner hereinbefore described, and will place the sleeve N under the built up force in the spring 34 which, upon release of the sleeve N, would tend to cause the sleeve N and shaft R to spring back to normal position. The parts may now be moved out as a unit until such time as the tumbler T drops into the notch N and comes to rest .on the upper surface of the reduced extension 39, whereupon the sleeve N is locked and the control wire positively held against movement in either direction.

In both of the control assemblies shown in the drawing, it is necessary that the sleeve S and the control rod R be provided with means for preventing the rotation thereof about their respective longitudinal axes. Otherwise, the notch n and the inclined surface l? would become misaligned and particularly the notch n might not register with the tumber T. To overcome any relative rotation between these two parts and between the parts as a union and the esoutcheon 2, I have provided detent El that extends into the aperture in the radial wall of the cap 2l and lies 75 in a longitudinal groove lil extending for substantially the length of the sleeve S as shown in either Figure 1 or 4. The shaft l, however, is prevented from rotating by means of a detent @3 formed as a part of the radial part i5 at one end of the sleeve S and cooperates with a longitudinal groove d3 in the rod. Hence, it will be apparent that the detent di? prevents the sleeve S from rotating and the detent cl2, in turn, prevents the shaft 'i from rotating.

One advantageous feature arising out of the assembly shown in Fig. 1 consists in the fact that a single pull outwardly on the knob K is all that is necessary to move the parts to projected position and to effect the locking thereof, since the tumbler 'I' is forced into the notch N by reason of the spring 2S. To release the parts from locked position, it is only necessary to push inwardly toward the dash panel on the knob K which results in the raising of the tumbler T from the notch N which occasions a trifle more effort on the part of the operator than that which would ordinarily be demanded in operating a control assembly without the lock. Likewise, in the assembly shown in Fig. 4, the sleeve N may be unlocked in a manner equally expeditious.

Although I have shown and described the preferred elements of my invention, certain departures will appear to those skilled in the art, all Within the scope of this invention and therefore I would not care to be limited to the exact disclosure shown other than by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim iszl. A control assembly comprising, in combination, an escutcheon tube adapted to be supported on the dash pane?. of an automotive vehicle, a control rod mounted in said escutcheon tube and being reciprocable with relation thereto, said control rod comprising a shaft having a reduced end portion, and a sleeve encompassing said shaft and having an opening therein overlying said reduced end portion, a control knob, means for operatively connecting said shaft and said sleeve to said knob, a tumbler adapted to co-operate with said opening in said sleeve and being adapted to rest below center therein and upon the reduced end portion of said shaft and means associated with said shaft for ejecting said tumbler from the opening in said sleeve, said sleeve and said shaft being capable of limited relative longitudinal movement when said tumbler co-operates with said opening.

2. A control assembly comprising an escutcheon adapted to be mounted on a planular surface, a control knob, a two part control rod comprising a tubular part and a solid shaft, said shaft being rigidly connected to said control knob, said tubular part encompassing said solid shaft and being slidable with relation thereto and resilient means mounted in said knob and spacing the ends of said tubular member and said shaft apart.

3. A control assembly comprising an escutcheon tube adapted to be supported on a planular surface, a control knob having an axial chamber, a two part control element mounted in said escutcheon and reciprocable as a unit therein, said control element comprising a rod and a tubular member encompassing said rod, one end of said rod extending into said chamber in said knob and being xed to said knob, the tubular member extending into said chamber and having a radial part abutting against the bottom of said chamber and means for maintaining said parts, during reciprocation, as a unit in such positional relation comprising an expansion spring located in said chamber and abutting, at one end,against the radial part of said tubular member.

e. A control assembly comprising an escutcheon, a control member comprising a knob having a chamber therein, a shaft afxed to said knob and extending through said chamber and the bottom thereof, a tubular part encompassing said shaft and having one end thereof lying Within said chamber at a point spaced from the bottom thereof, means for maintaining said shaft and said tubular part in positional relation comprising compression springs bearing against the end of said tubular member on opposing sides thereof, said compression springs lying in said chamber.

5. A control assembly comprising an escutcheon, a control member comprising a knob having a chamber therein and an apertured radial bottom Wall, a rod extending through said aperture and having a washer amxed to the end thereof, said washer being affixed to said knob and defining the top Wall of said chamber, a tubular member encompassing said rod and having one end thereof extending through said aperture and lying substantially midway of said chamber, one end of said tubular member being turned back to form a radial part, and means for retaining said rod and said tubular part in positional relation comprising companion springs mounted on opposing sides of said radial part, one of said springs abutting against said washer, the other of said springs abutting against the bottom wall of said chamber.

6. In a control assembly, the combination of an escutcheon, a two part control rod comprising a 'tubular member and a shaft reciprocable as a unit in said escutcheon, a control knob, one of said parts being rigidly connected to said control knob, said tubular member encompassing said shaft and being slidable with relation thereto, and resilient means disposed Within said knob and spacing the ends of said tubular member and said shaft apart.

'7. A control assembly comprising an escutcheon adapted to be mounted on the dash panel of an automotive vehicle and having a tumbler associated therewith and held against longitudinal movement, an escutcheon tube supported by said escutcheon, a two-part control rod carried by said escutcheon tube and reciprocable as a unit therein, one of said parts encompassing the other and having means adapted to cooperate with said tumbler to lock said control rod in at least one position of adjustment, a resilient connection between the said parts adapted to permit a limited reciprocation of the second part with respect to the first named part to release said first named part from engagement with said tumbler, and a single member adapted to operate both of said parts and to cause said relative reciprocating movement between said parts to take place.

8. In a control assembly, a support, a two-part control member carried by the support and reciprocable as a unit with relation thereto, a resiliently urged means mounted on the support and held against longitudinal reciprocatory movement with relation thereto for locking one part of said control member in a xed position, means associated with the other part of said control member for releasing said resiliently urged means upon relative movement between said parts, a single operating member for controlling both of said parts, and a resilient connection between said operating member and one of said parts adapted to return said parts to their normal relative position after said parts have been moved with relation to each other.

9. In a control assembly, a support, a twopart control rod reciprocable as a unit with respect to said support, one of said parts of said control rod being reciprocable with relation to the other when the other of said parts is held in fixed position, a resiliently urged member held in xed longitudinal position with respect to said support for holding the other of said parts in xed position, the rst of said parts being adapted to release said resiliently urged member from engagement with the other of said parts upon relative movement between the said parts, a single means for operating both of said parts, and a resilient connection between said means and one of said parts, said resilient connection being adapted to allow relative reciprocatory movement between said parts and to return said parts to normal position after such movement 10 has taken place.

JOHN D. BALDWIN, JR. 

